Join us once again for our annual public sector virtual seminar! On May 5th we will host a two-hour virtual program featuring a general session and four roundtable breakouts on timely legal topics of interest to public sector employers.

We invite you to register for our General Session and the Roundtable Breakout Session of your choosing.

WHEN: Thursday, May 5, 2022 | 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM
WHERE: Virtual
REGISTER HERE


General Session: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Legal Update for the Public Sector: 2022 Legal Trends
There have been many legal changes to the public sector landscape over the course of the pandemic and those working in the public sector have had to pivot and redefine operations at a record pace.  As we all continue to approach a “return to normal,” we invite you to join Shipman lawyers moderated by Jessica Ritter for an informative presentation on the latest legal trends and developments for the public sector “post-COVID.”

Topics Include:

  • Remote work accommodations and the latest developments related to paid and unpaid leave laws.

    Presenter: Gabriel J. Jiran

  • Considerations for public sector facilities including indoor air quality in a hybrid post-COVID world and a look at the Biden Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, which aims to improve ventilation and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in buildings.

    Presenter: Alfredo G. Fernández

  • Public finance round-up: RFP and bidding best practices, common issues for lease purchases, and the latest trends in post-COVID contract provisions.

    Presenter: Danielle McGrath Braun

  • Recent developments in data privacy and security issues facing the public sector, including ransomware attacks and data breaches, vendor contracting, and federal and state privacy regulations.

    Presenter:
     Damian J. Privitera, CIPP/US

Roundtable Breakout Sessions: 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 

New this year, we are offering roundtable breakouts via Zoom to engage in a conversation and solicit feedback from our audience. Come prepared to comment on the issues that matter most to your organization and share your ideas with like-minded professionals.  Breakouts will not be recorded to ensure that all are comfortable participating in the conversation. Please choose 1 roundtable breakout session to attend.

School Leadership Roundtable: What are the Challenges Ahead?

Join Tom Mooney, Natalia Sieira Millán and Fran Rabinowitz as they discuss the challenges school leaders will confront in the coming school year, including remote meetings, remote instruction, the potential teacher shortage, the impact of inflation, and the continuing impact of the Janus decision.  There will be an opportunity for questions and further discussion.

Presenters: Thomas B. Mooney, Natalia Sieira Millán, and Fran Rabinowitz, Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents

Who should attend: School leadership including Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Board Chairs

Labor Relations Roundtable: Trends and Strategies at the Bargaining Table

As we emerge from the pandemic into a world of rising healthcare costs and inflation, and with concepts like the Great Resignation and the Silver Tsunami adding further pressures, public employers are struggling to balance their financial capabilities while attracting, retaining, and supporting their employees. In this roundtable session, we will discuss key issues that public sector employers are facing at the bargaining table and strategize on ways to get the best and fairest deals possible. We will encourage and welcome input, questions, and strategies from the audience, so come prepared to share!

Presenters: Jessica Richman Smith and Christopher E. Engler

Who should attend: School, State and Municipal Labor relations and Human resources professionals

Employment Law Roundtable: Recent Trends in Employment Litigation and Investigations

In this roundtable session, we will discuss recent trends in employment litigation and workplace investigations, and provide public sector employers additional insight when responding to claims. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Presenters: Peter J. Murphy and Julia V. Wilde

Who should attend: School, State and Municipal Human resources professionals

Legal Roundtable (lawyers only, CLE): The Seven Deadly Sins: Lawyer Ethical Dilemmas and How to Avoid Them

Pride, lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath and envy – why should lawyers worry about such things? Using the framework of the seven deadly sins, the presenters will explore the application of Connecticut’s Rules of Professional Conduct to common lawyer ethical dilemmas.

Presenters: Anne H. Littlefield and Lee Anne Duval

Who should attend: State and municipal lawyers, AGs, assistant AGs, In-House Counsel/Legal Teams


Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

General Session:

This CLE program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York CLE Board for a maximum of 1 credit hours in Professional Practice and is appropriate for both transitional and nontransitional attorneys. The format of this program is permissible for newly admitted attorneys.

Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approves or accredits CLE providers or activities. It is the opinion of this provider that this activity qualifies for up to 1 hour toward your annual CLE requirement in Connecticut, including 0 hours of ethics/professionalism.

Legal Roundtable: The Seven Deadly Sins (eligible for CT CLE only)

Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approves or accredits CLE providers or activities. It is the opinion of this provider that this activity qualifies for up to 1 hour toward your annual CLE requirement in Connecticut, including 1 hour of ethics/professionalism.

 

We reserve the right to register only clients and prospective clients of the firm.

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Photo of Danielle McGrath Braun Danielle McGrath Braun

Danielle McGrath Braun assists with a wide variety of RFPs and contractual matters.  She has experience drafting and negotiating a range of service contracts, including transportation and food service contracts, facility use agreements, and lease purchase agreements.  Danielle works closely with superintendents and…

Danielle McGrath Braun assists with a wide variety of RFPs and contractual matters.  She has experience drafting and negotiating a range of service contracts, including transportation and food service contracts, facility use agreements, and lease purchase agreements.  Danielle works closely with superintendents and school business officials during the drafting and negotiation process in order to identify the specific needs of the school and its community, the detailed nature of the contracted service, and the unique risks involved.  She then uses this information to draft a contract tailored to each individual relationship, with the goal of minimizing risk to the school.

Photo of Lee Anne Duval Lee Anne Duval

Lee Anne Duval focuses her practice in the areas of complex business and intellectual property litigation, representing clients nationally in both state and federal courts in all phases of litigation at the trial and appellate levels. In addition to her practice, Lee also…

Lee Anne Duval focuses her practice in the areas of complex business and intellectual property litigation, representing clients nationally in both state and federal courts in all phases of litigation at the trial and appellate levels. In addition to her practice, Lee also currently serves as the firm’s Associate General Counsel.

Photo of Christopher Engler Christopher Engler

Chris Engler focuses his practice on the area of labor and employment law. He has assisted both public and private sector clients in a range of legal matters, running the gamut from grievance arbitrations before the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and…

Chris Engler focuses his practice on the area of labor and employment law. He has assisted both public and private sector clients in a range of legal matters, running the gamut from grievance arbitrations before the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and prohibited practice proceedings before the State Board of Labor Relations, to claims of employment discrimination and retaliation before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Photo of Alfredo G. Fernández Alfredo G. Fernández

A former aerospace engineer, Alfredo focuses his practice on regulatory compliance and transactional due diligence with respect to a wide range of federal, state and international environmental, health and safety laws.  Alfredo regularly counsels clients regarding new and existing chemicals under the Toxic…

A former aerospace engineer, Alfredo focuses his practice on regulatory compliance and transactional due diligence with respect to a wide range of federal, state and international environmental, health and safety laws.  Alfredo regularly counsels clients regarding new and existing chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), “Superfund” liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), chemical crises under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and workplace safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  Alfredo also has experience with unique investigation and remediation issues associated with emerging contaminants, state “Brownfields” programs and the “Connecticut Transfer Act.”

Alfredo’s complete biography can be found here.

Photo of Gabriel Jiran Gabriel Jiran

Gabriel Jiran is a partner in Shipman’s Employment and Labor Practice Group. Gabriel practices labor and employment law on behalf of corporations and public employers. He assists employers in addressing the full spectrum of issues associated with the employment relationship. He negotiates collective…

Gabriel Jiran is a partner in Shipman’s Employment and Labor Practice Group. Gabriel practices labor and employment law on behalf of corporations and public employers. He assists employers in addressing the full spectrum of issues associated with the employment relationship. He negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and frequently represents employers before administrative agencies and courts in labor disputes. Gabriel also litigates employment disputes on behalf of employers.

Photo of Anne H. Littlefield Anne H. Littlefield

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration…

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration proceedings as needed. Anne works with schools to address issues such as bullying and sexual harassment. She is often called upon to advise schools regarding professional boundaries and child abuse and neglect issues.  In her role as general counsel to boards of education around the state, Anne facilitates self-evaluation and goal-setting sessions. She also leads Shipman & Goodwin’s model policy project, which provides policy support and guidance to a number of school districts.

Anne serves as General Counsel to Shipman & Goodwin. From 2010 through 2017, she was Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, and from 2011 through 2017, she served on the firm’s seven-member Management Committee.

Photo of Thomas B. Mooney Thomas B. Mooney

Tom is chair emeritus of the School Law Practice Group and is active in all areas of school law, including labor negotiations for certified and non-certified staff, teacher tenure proceedings, grievance arbitration, freedom of information hearings, student disciplinary matters, special education disputes and…

Tom is chair emeritus of the School Law Practice Group and is active in all areas of school law, including labor negotiations for certified and non-certified staff, teacher tenure proceedings, grievance arbitration, freedom of information hearings, student disciplinary matters, special education disputes and all other legal proceedings involving boards of education. Tom is the author of A Practical Guide to Connecticut School Law (9th Edition, 2018), a comprehensive treatise on Connecticut school law, and two columns, “See You in Court!,” which appears in the CABE Journal, and “Legal Mailbag,” which appears in the CAS Bulletin.

Photo of Peter J. Murphy Peter J. Murphy

Peter represents public and private sector employers in a broad array of cases, with a focus on cases involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, first amendment retaliation, and other labor and employment disputes. In addition, Peter advises employers on issues such as employee…

Peter represents public and private sector employers in a broad array of cases, with a focus on cases involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, first amendment retaliation, and other labor and employment disputes. In addition, Peter advises employers on issues such as employee discipline, disability accommodations, and internal investigations, and provides training and seminar presentations on those issues.

Photo of Jessica Richman Smith Jessica Richman Smith

Jessica represents schools in a variety of education, labor relations and employment law matters.  She negotiates certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous public boards of education.  Jessica also represents school districts in labor and employment disputes, freedom of information…

Jessica represents schools in a variety of education, labor relations and employment law matters.  She negotiates certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous public boards of education.  Jessica also represents school districts in labor and employment disputes, freedom of information hearings, teacher tenure proceedings, student disciplinary matters, election law matters, and other legal proceedings arising in the education context.  In addition, Jessica advises schools on education policies and practices, compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, and other legal matters arising in the education context.

Photo of Jessica L. Ritter Jessica L. Ritter

Jessica is co-chair of Shipman’s Education Department, where she represents boards of education in both general and special education matters, as well as labor disputes and employment litigation arising in the education context. Jessica has negotiated certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on…

Jessica is co-chair of Shipman’s Education Department, where she represents boards of education in both general and special education matters, as well as labor disputes and employment litigation arising in the education context. Jessica has negotiated certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous boards of education and has represented public employers in arbitrations and in a wide variety of administrative proceedings before various state agencies.

Photo of Natalia Sieira-Millan Natalia Sieira-Millan

Natalia Sieira Millan advises public school districts on all aspects of school law, and she also teaches school law at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut as well as the Quinnipiac University School of Education.  Prior to joining the…

Natalia Sieira Millan advises public school districts on all aspects of school law, and she also teaches school law at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut as well as the Quinnipiac University School of Education.  Prior to joining the firm, Attorney Sieira Millan was an Assistant Agency Legal Director with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

Photo of Julia V. Wilde Julia V. Wilde

Julia Wilde advises public school districts on a variety of general education, special education and labor and employment issues. Prior to joining Shipman & Goodwin, Julia served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Hartford, where she advised the City on a…

Julia Wilde advises public school districts on a variety of general education, special education and labor and employment issues. Prior to joining Shipman & Goodwin, Julia served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Hartford, where she advised the City on a variety of legal matters, with an emphasis on public education, special education and labor and employment. In addition, she has worked for several law firms in Massachusetts.